Splitting Force of Wood 4

[smith16]

Im trying to get a splitting force required for wood with as Strength in Shear at 2660 psi. The Log i'm calculating for is 16" Diam. and 20" long. Im ending up with like 851000 lbs required to split which seems really high.... Does anyone know if this is right...I dont think it is

 

[unclesyd]

Here is a very comprehensive list of Firewood Processors from Saw Mill Magazine.

If you look at the offerings you will see subtle differences in each approach.

https://sawmillmag.com/Go.BGListings?c=21

tomwalz,
One of the processors even uses a circular chop saw in place of a chain saw. They say keep cutting instead of sharpening chains.

 

[tomwalz]

Hey unclesyd,

Thanks for the mention. Glad you are doing well. Chain saws are popular because they are smaller with less mass to move up and down. The big cut off saws (sometimes Scragg saws) use inserted teeth and we never found much of a market there.

Dear btrueblood,

As, I would bet you well know, snipping logs is not such a good idea. The force is possible but you destroy the log. Weyerhaeuser looked at it and decide that they lost way too much wood fiber. I would be you would pretty well destroy a 20” long log, 16” in diameter. I’d love to see a video of it.


Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.

http://www.carbideprocessors.com

 

[btrueblood]

So'd I, Tom! I thought they were still using the shear type harvesters down in the South, where all the pine was just going to pulp anyway...I watched a video of one of those machines working, but it was years ago. The ends of the soft pine trees got mangled, but the log didn't seem to split (down the grain) much at all. Those were just little 4" peckerwood trees, though, not the big trees.

But you are right, the new Deere harvester with the tracks in front uses a cutoff saw (or a mounted chainsaw?), not a snip. Neat machines, I want to find one working and watch it for awhile. Unfortunately, most of the logging areas around here are also on steep hillsides where that machine, and others like it, would make a mess as is rolled 1000 feet down thru the woods...

 

[tomwalz]

You could be right. We’re in the saw business so snipping sounds like the devil’s work to us. Then, too, we’re up here in Washington State.

Modern Marvels has a show called Logging Tech where they show one working a little bit.

There is a forestry show in B.C. where they take folks out in the field and watch machines work.


Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.

http://www.carbideprocessors.com

 

[btrueblood]

Tom,

The fact that y'all are still in business here where loggers and mill workers are an endangered species, means your company must do pretty darn good work. If I ever need some carbide, I know where to look.

 

[justinwest]

Sorry to get off-topic, but could someone enlighten me as to a formula to determine the force generated by a regular ol' splitting maul?

I know I would need weight of the maul and most likely the velocity.

 

[hydtools]

Look here to set up the problem:

http://em-ntserver.unl.edu/Negahban/em223/note16/note16.htm

Ted